Famous NASCAR team honours Jim Clark

Fresh from their success at Las Vegas, NASCAR Cup Series team Wood Brothers Racing has paid tribute to F1 legend Jim Clark.

For the annual NASCAR Throwback Round at Darlington on April 6, Josh Berry’s #21 Ford Mustang the team’s iconic red and white has been ditched in favour of the Lotus green and gold.

This pays homage to Clark and his 1965 Indianapolis 500 victory by almost two minutes in a Lotus to give Ford its first win after leading 190 of the 200 laps.

READ A DEEP INSIGHT INTO JIM CLARK’S 1965 SEASON IN A SPECIAL FEATURE IN AUTO ACTION PREMIUM

Whilst Colin Chapman’s Team Lotus ran the #82, the Wood Brothers played a key role  by performing the refuelling pit stops, which helped the British legend drive to history.

The Indy 500 win was part of a 1965 campaign for the ages by Clark as he became the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 and Formula 1 world title in the same season.

Jim Clark with his Team Lotus crew at the 1965 Indianapolis 500. Image: LAT

As a result, one of the most famous F1 liveries has been morphed onto a NASCAR and the Woods Brothers Racing Team is looking forward to seeing it racing at Darlington.

“I call them tribute schemes, but we’ve been looking for every opportunity to do those, and Darlington being throwback city, it just made sense to do it there,” says Jon Wood, team president.

“You know, it’s easy to maybe debate the appropriateness of an Indy 500 paint scheme at Darlington, but does it really matter?

“Darlington is about celebrating the history of the sport, and this is entirely appropriate in that aspect, so it seemed like it was a good fit, and that’s where we are.”

The throwback livery has the blessing of the Chapman family as Wood called Clive Chapman, Colin’s son.

READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.